– Wingshooting –
Catskill Mountain Ruffed Grouse & Woodcock Hunting
**Upland Hunting Update**
We are FULLY booked for the ’24 Grouse Season! We will begin booking 2025 in February. Thank you!
2024 & 2025 Season Rates:
Half Day Hunt – 1 or 2 Hunters – $475.00
Full Day Hunt – 1 or 2 Hunters – $600.00
3rd Hunter +$150.00
Shotgun Rental – $50.00/Day per gun & ammunition
*Group Trips Available!*
*Guide gratuity not included*
More About Guided Wingshooting
Covert Creek Outfitting offers full service, guided upland hunting for ruffed grouse and migratory woodcock! We hunt wild birds on public land throughout the Catskills, Mohawk Valley, and Central New York. Often a tough, but special hunt, our coverts [pronounced ‘cuh-verts’] are full of prime aged grouse and woodcock habitat; from overgrown apple trees to aspen stands, rock walls and alder bottoms – we hunt thick cover to find and flush the king of the upland gamebirds!
We hunt over pointing dogs and welcome guests to bring their own pointing or flushing dog! Our typical flush rates exceed the state average, but we encourage guests to hunt at least two half days to experience what our coverts have to offer. We may hike multiple miles of terrain in a day, and we hunt hard to produce the best that our region has to offer! The Catskills call for a sturdy pair of boots, strong legs, and a sense of adventure.
Never planted birds here – only wild birds that many count flushes and not birds in the bag; birds that will make you come back time and time again. Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock thrive on early successional forest; thankfully we’re on top of finding the best coverts to hunt and find these birds! Once your dates are set, we’re already scouting and keeping our dogs in top shape to provide you with the best experience possible. Bring your A-Game, we’ll bring ours!
Our hunts are based out of the upper Delaware County and Schoharie County areas. Our guides have a broad range of coverts to accommodate weather, dog hunting style, your preferences, and physical ability. Both new and experienced upland hunters are welcome to join us! Be sure to let us know what you are looking for and let us plan your trip of a lifetime!
Season Dates:
Ruffed Grouse: Oct. 1st – Feb. 28th
Woodcock: Oct. 1st – Nov. 14th
We will guide until we can no longer access our coverts due to winter weather or unsafe conditions.
Trips Include:
-Half or Full Day Hunt, Guide, & Pointing dogs
-Ammunition, if needed
-Use of upland vest, hat, & safety gear, if needed
-Water, soft drinks, & snacks. Full Days include tailgate lunch.
-Bird processing, as needed
**Ask about our 2024 October Cast & Blast packages**
2024 Cast & Blast: Trout, Ruffed Grouse, and Woodcock!
1 or 2 people – 3 hours fly fishing, 3 hours hunting, & Field Lunch – $750.00
A great way to spend the day outdoors doing what you love! Whether you’re a seasoned fly angler and grouse hunter, or new to one or both, our Cast & Blast is a great way to gain experience in these sporting adventures! Please contact us for more information and availability.
Group trips are available for our Cast & Blasts!
Instruction:
1:1 Shotgun instruction available upon request – Get comfortable with your shotgun, learn the importance of gun fit, and learn basic wingshooting skills to be successful in the field and on the sporting clays course.
Contact us for more information.
Before Your Trip:
We’re in communication with you from the time you book right up to the date of your trip! You’ll know who your guide is, where to meet, what the conditions are looking like, where you’ll be hunting or fishing, and everything in between!
You’re taking time out of your busy schedule to join us on the water or in the field – you can expect us to always give you the attention you deserve! Be sure to let us know exactly what you’re looking for so we can provide you with the experience we’re known for.
Attention Hunters & Anglers:
All hunters & anglers must have a valid New York State hunting/fishing license in their possession. Please have this prior to the day of the trip. Licenses can be purchased online here.
NY Harvest Information Program [HIP] Numbers for woodcock may be obtained here.
NYS now has a cased and locked firearm transportation law. Please be prepared. We’re happy to clarify based on our understanding.
If asked to obtain a NYS DEP Access Permit, they are available free of charge by clicking here.
*Guide gratuities are not included in trip costs*
What Our Clients Are Saying…
Hunting with Joe is like hunting with a friend. He was very knowledgeable and made sure to explain- Where, why, what and how in every situation, cover, and bird contact. The experience does not disappoint.
-Nick D.
My partner and I hunted for three days with Joe in early December 2023. What a fantastic experience. Joe is one of, if not the best guide I have hunted with in my 5 decades of hunting. His habitat expertise, woods savvy, and extensive scouting to find covers large and small mean that you will see birds. We had a terrific time and can’t wait to do it again. I share Joe’s passion for the traditions of Northeast Grouse hunting, and we had wonderful conversations about guns, dogs, and the great sporting writers of old. Can’t say enough good things about the experience, other than just do it and you will know.
-Robbert W.
Hunted with Covert Creek Outfitting for the first time and it will not be the last! We had an awesome time! Joe H. is passionate and very knowledgeable. A special thanks to Cash, his dog. Such a well-trained dog! If you’re looking to hunt grouse and woodcock definitely book a hunt with Covert Creek Outfitting!
-Pete P.
Joe is as good as it gets!! The way he takes care of his dogs, and the way the dogs take care of us is truly remarkable. We had such a great time in the very late season. Joe put us onto primo locations, and we saw plenty of action. See you next year Joe!!
-Christian P.
Deposits & Cancellations
We are now booking all trips through AnyCreek. A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking. Your card will be charged for the remaining balance on the day of your trip. Deposits are refundable up to 14 days prior to the trip, less any credit card or processing fees. Cancellations within 14 days will have the deposit applied to a future date. In the event of a no call, no show we will charge your credit card for the balance remaining. If the trip must be cancelled due to weather or river conditions, we will reschedule the trip as soon as possible. If you are not from the region and unable to re-book, your deposit may be refunded. We require all hunters and anglers to have a waiver of liability on file before their trip. Those under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian signature.